Friday, October 29, 2010

Williams Out?

What does Panthers tailback DeAngelo Williams think the chances are he’ll play Sunday at St. Louis?

It’s difficult to know because Williams isn’t talking.

Williams, who sprained his foot on the game-winning drive against San Francisco, missed his second consecutive practice Thursday. And for the second consecutive day Williams avoided the media, telling a team official that he would talk after Sunday’s game.Read more Panther New at The Charlotte Observer

Panthers coach John Fox, as is his custom, also declined to shed much light on Williams’ injury.

“He’s day to day. He gets a little bit better every day,” Fox said.

Given that the Panthers have another tailback who topped 1,100 yards in 2009 in Jonathan Stewart – albeit a back who is averaging 3 yards a carry this year – Fox was asked whether he felt confident in his depth at the position.

“You always prefer to have everybody healthy, and we could have everybody healthy,” Fox said. “We’ll just make that evaluation, it usually goes to an hour and a half before kickoff.”

Second-year back Mike Goodson has received more practice reps this week with Williams out. Goodson had 14 offensive touches the first three weeks of the season, but has only two in the three games since.

“He’s a player we rely on to use in different situations, aside from special teams,” Fox said. “He’s gotten his touches, and we’ll continue to do that.”

But the bulk of the carries will go to Stewart if Williams can’t play. Stewart said Wednesday he still has pain in his surgically repaired Achilles, but classified it as “not anything tragic.”

In other news, Carolina defensive end Tyler Brayton returned to practice a day after his wife delivered a baby girl. Injury report mainstay Jeff Otah remains out following his August knee surgery, while receiver Devin Thomas was limited with a groin injury he said was minor.
--Joseph Person